Wagon Wheels With Veggie Sauce

Learning Benefits

The best thing about hot pasta is that it can "cook" its own sauce. Here is a quick stir-in sauce that will give your child a good dose of fresh vegetables.

What you need:

6 chopped fresh tomatoes plus half a cup of water, or 1 large can of chopped tomatoes

a handful of fresh basil leaves or 1 tbsp. dried basil

a handful of fresh parsley or 1 tbsp. dried parsley

6 baby carrots

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

8 oz. cooked wagon wheels

grated parmesan or romano cheese (optional)

What to do:

Invite your child to count out 6 tomatoes. Put them in a line from largest to smallest. She can wash the tomatoes and you can chop.

Add 1/2 cup water to the chopped tomatoes and place in food processor. Or, if you are using canned tomatoes, put them (undrained) in a blender without adding water.

Ask your child to estimate how many basil leaves and/or parsley stems she can pick up in one handful! Write down the number and then have her pick up her handful and count how many she actually got. Add to food processor.

Have your child count out 5 baby carrots and add to food processor.

Get out the measuring spoons and ask your child to notice the difference between the teaspoon and the half-teaspoon. Which is biggest? Help her measure 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and put in the food processor.